In 2019, as Andy Carroll dealt with his 13th injury in seven years, the idea of playing professional football into his 40s seemed like a far-fetched dream. Having faced accusations of lacking professionalism during his younger years at Newcastle, even extending his career into his late 30s felt unlikely. However, a surprising opportunity with French club Bordeaux is now giving the 35-year-old forward a chance to extend his playing days.
Despite playing in the fourth tier of French football and earning less money, Carroll remains driven by his deep love for the game. “A lot of retired players or those nearing the end of their careers have asked why I’m here in France, away from my family,” Carroll shared in a conversation with BBC Sport. “But I’m loving it.”
In his debut appearance for Bordeaux, Carroll made an immediate impact by scoring twice, rescuing a draw after being two goals behind against Voltigeurs de Chateaubriant. His aspirations go beyond personal enjoyment. Inspired by past Bordeaux legends like Zinedine Zidane, Jean Tigana, and Christophe Dugarry, Carroll wants to play a part in the club’s revival. He has set his sights on contributing to their rise back to glory, with an ambition to continue playing for at least another five years.
With Bordeaux’s rich history and their modern 42,000-seater stadium, Carroll feels that everything is aligned for him. “The project here is about trying for back-to-back promotions, and I want to be part of that journey,” he said, underlining his desire to leave his mark on the club’s future.
Carroll’s enjoyment of his current stint is rooted in overcoming a painful chapter at West Ham, where injuries severely hampered his progress. The striker described his time at the club as a “nightmare,” especially dealing with recurring ankle injuries. “I had surgery on a fractured ankle, but it didn’t go as planned,” Carroll explained. “They inserted the wrong pins, causing my ankle to refracture multiple times, which required more surgeries.”
The repeated setbacks were not just physically taxing but emotionally draining as well. Carroll admitted it was tough to be in and out of recovery while watching his teammates continue playing. “It was mentally challenging,” he said. “I’d be close to making the squad, then something would go wrong again. It was just frustrating.”
Adding to the challenge was the media portrayal of his injury issues. Carroll expressed how difficult it was to read accusations suggesting he was content to collect wages while injured. “I struggled with that, especially because people didn’t understand what I was going through,” he noted. While past off-field incidents, including a nightclub altercation, continued to haunt him in the media, Carroll felt those labels didn’t accurately represent who he truly was.
After leaving West Ham, Carroll returned to Newcastle for two years before moving to Reading in the Championship. These periods of rehabilitation have rejuvenated him, pushing back any thoughts of retirement. Reflecting on this, Carroll remarked, “I haven’t really thought about retiring yet. If I weren’t a professional, I’d still play football just for fun.”
The move to France, starting with Amiens in Ligue 2 before Bordeaux, offered him a different perspective on life. “When I joined Amiens, it felt like a whole new way of living – quieter, more relaxed,” he shared. The financial contrast between top-flight football in England and his experience in France doesn’t bother Carroll. “I’ve seen players earning huge amounts back in England, but here, even though the money is less, the spirit is great. The lads work hard every day, and the atmosphere is much more laid back.”
Alongside his football career, Carroll is also running a property business in the northeast of England and regularly travels to London to visit his family. His children have been encouraging him to explore a future in football management, but Carroll has other dreams. “My sons keep telling me to become a manager,” he said with a smile. “But honestly, my dream is to one day play alongside them in the same team as strike partners. That would be even better than managing.”
[wpupg-grid id=articles]